[scotchanwry]

The Highland League have confirmed their view that SFA proposals are NOT-A-PYRAMID and have rejected it UNANIMOUSLY. They plan to propose a `progressive programme` later in February.

It is to be hoped that all reasonable clubs in EoS, SoS and Juniors will follow suit .... and START TALKING about a UNIFIED system. This is their chance to create a REAL football system in Scotland.

[Voice of Reason]

scotchanwry, on 11 January 2012 - 10:40, said:

The Highland League have confirmed their view that SFA proposals are NOT-A-PYRAMID and have rejected it UNANIMOUSLY. They plan to propose a `progressive programme` later in February.

It is to be hoped that all reasonable clubs in EoS, SoS and Juniors will follow suit .... and START TALKING about a UNIFIED system. This is their chance to create a REAL football system in Scotland.

Just so I can understand, could you explain what is a unified, real system and how this differs from the SFA proposals?

[open mind]

Does anyone know if this proposal has been discussed at EOS committee level or if any of the clubs have been asked their opinion.

This post has been edited by open mind: 11 January 2012 - 12:37

[Hampden Diehard]

Voice of Reason, on 11 January 2012 - 11:02, said:

Just so I can understand, could you explain what is a unified, real system and how this differs from the SFA proposals?

This would be where the Juniors sign up for it, rather than pick and choose what they want; that's for starters. That won't happen. One-off games like Talbot's game at Tynecastle are what most of the Juniors want, then next week they play local rivals where it's a fiver to get in, rather than paying a tenner to watch their team play us, Montrose or the Shire.

The way that the population of Scotland is spread out and the small size of towns which have relatively good fitba sides (Auchinleck 4,000 etc etc) mean that it is going to be very difficult to make this work, and that's even if the bigger Junior sides do sign up for it. If we were starting from scratch, a pyramid system MIGHT work and that would be great, but we're not starting from scratch. Look at the Third Division this year; would Talbot (as an example) really relish the thought of financing two trips each season to Elgin, Peterheid, Berwick, Stranraer and Montrose? Ditto some of the better sides up north. Elgin get reasonable crowds, but they struggle to get local players (we're told) committing to them becasue of all the travelling. Who of the current HL could reasonably afford to enter a non-regional Third Division?

[newcastle broon]

Hampden Diehard, on 11 January 2012 - 12:37, said:

This would be where the Juniors sign up for it, rather than pick and choose what they want; that's for starters. That won't happen. One-off games like Talbot's game at Tynecastle are what most of the Juniors want, then next week they play local rivals where it's a fiver to get in, rather than paying a tenner to watch their team play us, Montrose or the Shire.

The way that the population of Scotland is spread out and the small size of towns which have relatively good fitba sides (Auchinleck 4,000 etc etc) mean that it is going to be very difficult to make this work, and that's even if the bigger Junior sides do sign up for it. If we were starting from scratch, a pyramid system MIGHT work and that would be great, but we're not starting from scratch. Look at the Third Division this year; would Talbot (as an example) really relish the thought of financing two trips each season to Elgin, Peterheid, Berwick, Stranraer and Montrose? Ditto some of the better sides up north. Elgin get reasonable crowds, but they struggle to get local players (we're told) committing to them becasue of all the travelling. Who of the current HL could reasonably afford to enter a non-regional Third Division?

i understand what your saying regards travelling but with no disrespect to smaller sfl clubs how do clubs like yourselves manage on the existing crowds just now ?

Do you receive some sort of payment from the sfl to subsidise travelling costs ?

[The Old Northerner]

open mind, on 11 January 2012 - 12:36, said:

Does anyone know if this proposal has been discussed at EOS committee level or if any of the clubs have been asked their opinion.

All clubs in the HFL, SoS, EoS and Juniors should have received these proposals and have been invited to respond by the end of January. The Highland boys appears to have answered en masse but everybody is free to chip in as and when

This post has been edited by The Old Northerner: 11 January 2012 - 14:17

[open mind]

The Old Northerner, on 11 January 2012 - 14:16, said:

All clubs in the HFL, SoS, EoS and Juniors should have received these proposals and have been invited to respond by the end of January. The Highland boys appears to have answered en masse but everybody is free to chip in as and when

Cheers for the update, I'm suprised this hasn't been discussed more on this site, although I do remember seeing something posted on the website regarding the letter from Reagan a few months back.

[Clayhole Blue]

newcastle broon, on 11 January 2012 - 14:09, said:

i understand what your saying regards travelling but with no disrespect to smaller sfl clubs how do clubs like yourselves manage on the existing crowds just now ?

Same as most other clubs - gate money, sponsorship, lotteries, social clubs, etc. Payment for reaching certain stages of the cups. Yes, we'll get one-off payments from the SFA, but so do the EOS, SOS and HFL SFA member clubs. (I think 3rd div clubs each got £20K recently while non-league members got £15K and 2nd and 1st division got more)

[HibeeJibee]

SFL clubs undoubtedly have higher incomes compared to almost all non-leaguers, but they'll also generally have higher costs, and neither is particularly surprising.


Income for example. Clearly it's going to be a bit easier to generate sponsorship, sell ad boards, etc. when your club is playing national football with the associated higher degrees of media exposure.
Crowds are also higher - every club in the Third Division averaged over 300 last season with the divisional average 400, and there'll be literally a few club in the non-leagues getting those figures. Plus prices tend to be at least £10 in the Third Division, whereas typically £5 in the non-leagues.

Apparently the lowest finisher in the Third Division gets around £30k in prizemoney - and losing in R1 of the League Cup apparently nets £11k as well - while prizemoney tends to be minimal bordering upon token in the non-leagues.


But expenses are higher too. Nationwide travel is expensive and so is ground maintanence - the regulation applying to SPL/SFL grounds, and the facilities they must entail (seated stands; floodlights; etc.) all adds up.

I don't think there's any doubt that a typical SFL wage is higher than a typical non-league wage, either.

[Burnie_man]

Hampden Diehard, on 11 January 2012 - 12:37, said:

This would be where the Juniors sign up for it, rather than pick and choose what they want; that's for starters. That won't happen.

Can you explain where the Juniors have been "picking and choosing"?

Quote

One-off games like Talbot's game at Tynecastle are what most of the Juniors want

How many clubs have you surveyed to form this opinion?